Cam: Yajie, the best thing about China definitely has to be the food. There are so many different cuisines, I feel like I have been eating non-stop since I got here.
YJ: Yes, China is famous for its scrumptious food, and we are going to start a two-week long look at different foods and how to speak in a restaurant on our Chinese Studio.
Cam: Ah, I am getting hungry at the thought. We can’t start this soon enough!
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Key Words of the Day
欢迎光临(huan1ying2 guang1lin2)。Welcome. 请坐(qing3 zuo4)。Please be seated. 吃(chi1), to eat. 您吃点儿什么(nin2 chi1 dianr3 shenme2)？ What would you like to eat? 喝(he1), to drink. 您喝点儿什么(nin2 he1 dianr3 shenme2)？What would you like to drink? All in today’s Chinese Studio.
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Cam: So Yajie, when I walk into a restaurant, they often say something to me to welcome me. Something like ......What is that?
YJ: Usually it’s欢迎光临(huan1ying2 guang1lin2), Welcome.
Cam: 欢迎光临(huan1ying2 guang1lin2).
YJ: 欢迎, h-u-a-n, y-i-n-g, the first tone, and the second tone.
Cam: 欢迎. Right?
YJ: Yes. And 光临 shows the respect for the consumers. 光临, g-u-a—n-g, l-i-n.
Cam: 光临 (guang1lin2) also the first tone, and the second tone..
YJ: 欢迎光临(huan1ying2 guang1lin2), Welcome.
Cam: 欢迎光临(huan1ying2 guang1lin2).
YJ: You may also hear欢迎光临(huan1ying2 guang1lin2) when entering a department store and so on.
Cam: Ok, I understand this now. 欢迎光临(huan1ying2 guang1lin2) , Welcome.
Conversation1:
YJ: After you enter the restaurant, a waiter or waitress will lead you to a table. Generally speaking, if there are more than four people, you will be taken to a large table.
Cam: Ok. I see. Then he or say will say请坐(qing3 zuo4)。Please be seated. Right?
YJ: Yes. 请(qing3) means please. And 坐(zuo4) means to sit down. , the fourth tone.
Cam: 坐 (zuo4), to sit down. And “Please be seated” then 请坐(qing3 zuo4).
Conversation2:
YJ: Then you will be asked to order dishes. You may hear this: 您吃点儿什么(nin2 chi1 dianr3 shenme2)？What would you like to eat?
Cam: 您吃点儿什么(nin2 chi1 dianr3 shenme2)？
YJ: 您 (nin2)is the polite form of 你(ni3).
Cam: 您 (nin2).
YJ: And 吃, c-h-i, the first tone, means to eat.
Cam: 吃(chi1).
YJ: 吃点儿(chi1 dianr3), to eat a little bit. Here点儿( dianr3) is short for 一点儿 ( yì dianr3)，which means a little bit. 吃点儿(chi1 dianr3).
Cam: 吃点儿(chi1 dianr3).But that means I just have to eat just a little bit?
YJ: Well here's the thing that I’d like to point out. Although here the waiter or waitress says 吃点儿 (chi1 dianr3), to eat a little bit, actually, it doesn’t mean you could order only a little bit. Instead you can order anything that you want.
Cam: OK. But sometimes I hear waitress say “您吃什么？” There is no 点儿 “dianr3”.
YJ: It’s all right to say您吃什么？But this sounds too direct and a little bit imprudent. So usually waitresses would say您吃点儿什么(nin2 chi1 dianr3 shenme2)？
Cam: 您吃点儿什么(nin2 chi1 dianr3 shenme2)？
YJ: Next comes to 喝(he1) which means to drink. H-e, the first tone.
Cam: 喝(he). Now I know how they say “What would you like to drink?”. It would be 您喝点儿什么(nin2 he1 dianr3 shenme2)？
YJ: Exactly. 您喝点儿什么(nin2 he1 dianr3 shenme2)？What would you like to drink?
Conversation3:
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Key Words Reminder
欢迎光临(huan1ying2 guang1lin2)。Welcome. 请坐(qing3 zuo4)。Please be seated. 吃, to eat. 您吃点儿什么(nin2 chi1 dianr3 shenme2)？ What would you like to eat? 喝, to drink. 您喝点儿什么(nin2 he1 dianr3 shenme2)？What would you like to drink?
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YJ: So let’s go eat Cam… all this talk of food is making me hungry.
Cam: No kidding.Let's lead into our question of the day. How do you say “What would you like to eat” in Chinese? See you tomorrow!
YJ: Ming tian jian.
